and some of the hottest spots are right here in california. 30 minutes from the nearest town, in the sierra foothills that lead to nothing but desert, there lurks a threat to the wallets of every american consumer. this is where, as this ice undercover video shows thieves jump on to moving freight trains, riding the rails and all the while stealing the high value cargo right off the train, with the engineers completely in the dark. >> happens every day. >> reporter: in a remote place like this one, when the sun goes down, the risk from cargo theft from passing freight trains goes up. >> gone, like that, tens of millions, gone like that. >> reporter: law enforcement officials say this is the kind of place where trains are at their most vulnerable. a steep grade, a series of switchbacks through the mountains in the middle of nowhere. we're east of bakersfield with the beginning of a series of switchbacks that end at this pass, right here, the officials say is where the robbers lie in wait. >> it is just easy, easy for them to do and to escape is easy. >> reporter: and it is costing eac